For Millet maiz
for Flour hui
for Fishhook pinda
for Knife tacse
for Comb chigap
for Scissors pirame
for Bell itanmaraca
Good, better tum maragathum
We remained in that land for 13 days. Then proceeding, on our way, we
went as far as 34 and one-third degrees [81] toward the Antarctic Pole,
where we found people at a freshwater river, called Canibali [i.e.,
cannibals], who eat human flesh. One of them, in stature almost a
giant, came to the flagship in order to assure [the safety of] the
others his friends. [82] He had a voice like a bull. While he was in
the ship, the others carried away their possessions from the place
where they were living into the interior, for fear of us. Seeing that,
we landed one hundred men in order to have speech and converse with
them, or to capture one of them by force. They fled, and in fleeing
they took so large a step that we although running could not gain on
their steps. There are seven islands in that river, in the largest of
which precious gems are found. That place is called the cape of Santa
Maria, and it was formerly thought that one passed thence to the sea of
Sur, that is to say the South Sea, but nothing further was ever
discovered. Now the name is not [given to] a cape, but [to] a river,
with a mouth 17 leguas in width. [83] A Spanish captain, called Johan
de Solis and sixty men, who were going to discover lands like us, were
formerly eaten at that river by those cannibals because of too great
confidence. [84]
Then proceeding on the same course toward the Antarctic Pole, coasting
along the land, we came to anchor at two islands full of geese and
sea-wolves. [85] Truly, the great number of those geese cannot be
reckoned; in one hour we loaded the five ships [with them]. Those geese
are black and have all their feathers alike both on body and wings.
They do not fly, and live on fish. They were so fat that it was not
necessary to pluck them but to skin them. Their beak is like that of a
crow. Those sea-wolves are of various colors, and as large as a calf,
with a head like that of a calf, ears small and round, and large teeth.
They have no legs but only feet with small nails attached to the body,
which resemble our hands, and between their fingers the same kind of
skin as the geese. They would be very fierce if they could run. They
swim, and live on fish. At that place the ships suffered a very great
storm, during which the three holy bodies appeared to us many times,
that is to say, St. Elmo, St. Nicholas, and St. Clara, whereupon the
storm quickly ceased.
Leaving that place, we finally reached 49 and one-half degrees toward
the Antarctic Pole. As it was winter, the ships entered a safe port to
winter. [86] We passed two months in that place without seeing anyone.
One day we suddenly saw a naked man of giant stature on the shore of
the port, dancing, [87] singing, and throwing dust on his head. The
captain-general sent one of our men to the giant so that he might
perform the same, actions as a sign of peace. Having done that, the man
led the giant to an islet into the presence of the captain-general.
When the giant was in the captain-general’s and our presence, he
marveled greatly, [88] and made signs with one finger raised upward,
believing that we had come from the sky. He was so tall that we reached
only to his waist, and he was well proportioned. His face was large and
painted red all over while about his eyes he was painted yellow; and he
had two hearts painted on the middle of his cheeks. His scanty hair was
painted white. [89] He was dressed in the skins of animals skilfully
sewn together. That animal has a head and ears as large as those of a
mule, a neck and body like those of a camel, the legs of a deer, and
the tail of a horse, like which it neighs, and that land has very many
of them. [90] His feet were shod with the same kind of skins which
covered his feet in the manner of shoes. [91] In his hand he carried a
short, heavy bow, with a cord somewhat thicker than those of the lute,
[92] and made from the intestines of the same animal, and a bundle of
rather short cane arrows feathered like ours, and with points of white
and black flint stones in the manner of Turkish arrows, instead of
iron. Those points were fashioned by means of another stone. [93] The
captain-general had the giant given something to eat and drink, and
among other things which were shown to him was a large steel mirror.
When he saw his face, he was greatly terrified, and jumped back
throwing three or four [94] of our men to the ground. After that he was
given some bells, a mirror, a comb, and certain Pater Nosters. The
captain-general sent him ashore with 4 armed men. When one of his
companions, who would never come to the ships, saw him coming with our
men, he ran to the place where the others were, who came [down to the
shore] all naked one after the other. When our men reached them, they
began to dance and to sing, lifting one finger to the sky. They showed
our men some white powder made from the roots of an herb, which they
kept in earthen pots, and which they ate because they had nothing else.
Our men made signs inviting them to the ships, and that they would help
them carry their possessions. Thereupon, those men quickly took only
their bows, while their women laden like asses carried everything. The
latter are not so tall as the men but are very much fatter. When we saw
them we were greatly surprised. Their breasts are one-half braza long,
and they are painted and clothed like their husbands, except that
before their privies [natura] they have a small skin which covers them.
They led four of those young animals, fastened with thongs like a
halter. When those people wish to catch some of those animals, they tie
one of these young ones to a thornbush. Thereupon, the large ones come
to play with the little ones; and those people kill them with their
arrows from their place of concealment. Our men led eighteen of those
people, counting men and women, to the ships, and they were distributed
on the two sides of the port so that they might catch some of the said
animals.
Six days after the above, a giant painted [95] and clothed in the same
manner was seen by some [of our men] who were cutting wood. He had a
bow and arrows in his hand. When our men approached him, he first
touched his head, face, [96] and body, and then did the same to our
men, afterward lifting his hands toward the sky. When the
captain-general was informed of it, he ordered him to be brought in the
small boat. He was taken to that island in the port where our men had
built a house for the smiths [97] and for the storage of some things
from the ships. That man was even taller and better built than the
others and as tractable and amiable. Jumping up and down, he danced,
and when he danced, at every leap, his feet sank a palmo into the
earth. He remained with us for a considerable number of days, so long
that we baptized him, calling him Johanni. He uttered [the words]
“Jesu,” “Pater Noster,” “Ave Maria” and “Jovani” [i.e.,
John97 as distinctly as we, but with an exceedingly loud voice. Then
the captain-general gave him a shirt, a woolen jerkin [camisota de
panno], cloth breeches, a cap, a mirror, a comb, bells, and other
things, and sent him away like his companions. He left us very joyous
and happy. The following day he brought one of those large animals to
the captain-general, in return for which many things were given to him,
so that he might bring some more to us; but we did not see him again.
We thought that his companions had killed him because he had conversed
with us.
A fortnight later we saw four of those giants without their arms for
they had hidden them in certain bushes as the two whom we captured
showed us. Each one was painted differently. The captain-general kept
two of them—the youngest and best proportioned—by means of a very
cunning trick, in order to take them to Spagnia. [98] Had he used any
other means [than those he employed], they could easily have killed
some of us. [99] The trick that he employed in keeping them was as
follows. He gave them many knives, scissors, mirrors, bells, and glass
beads; and those two having their hands filled with the said articles,
the captain-general had two pairs of iron manacles brought, such as are
fastened on the feet. [100] He made motions that he would give them to
the giants, whereat they were very pleased since those manacles were of
iron, but they did not know how to carry them. They were grieved at
leaving them behind, but they had no place to put those gifts; for they
had to hold the skin wrapped about them with their hands. [101] The
other two giants wished to help them, but the captain refused. Seeing
that they were loth to leave those manacles behind, the captain made
them a sign that he would put them on their feet, and that they could
carry them away. They nodded assent with the head. Immediately, the
captain had the manacles put on both of them at the same time. When our
men were driving home the cross bolt, the giants began to suspect
something, but the captain assuring them, however, they stood still.
When they saw later that they were tricked, they raged like bulls,
calling loudly for Setebos [102] to aid them. With difficulty could we
bind the hands of the other two, whom we sent ashore with nine of our
men, in order that the giants might guide them to the place where the
wife of one of the two whom we had captured [103] was; for the latter
expressed his great grief at leaving her by signs so that we understood
[that he meant] her. While they were on their way, one of the giants
freed his hands, and took to his heels with such swiftness that our men
lost sight of him. He went to the place where his associates were, but
he did not find [there] one of his companions, who had remained behind
with the women, and who had gone hunting. He immediately went in search
of the latter, and told him all that had happened. [104] The other
giant endeavored so hard to free himself from his bonds, that our men
struck him, wounding him slightly on the head, whereat he raging led
them to where the women were. Gioan Cavagio, the pilot and commander of
those men, refused to bring back the woman [105] that night, but
determined to sleep there, for night was approaching. The other two
giants came, and seeing their companion wounded, hesitated, [106] but
said nothing then. But with the dawn, they spoke [107] to the women,
[whereupon] they immediately ran away (and the smaller ones ran faster
than the taller), leaving all their possessions behind them. Two of
them turned aside to shoot their arrows at our men. The other was
leading away those small animals of theirs in order to hunt. [108] Thus
fighting, one of them pierced the thigh of one of our men with an
arrow, and the latter died immediately. When the giants saw that, they
ran away quickly. Our men had muskets and crossbows, but they could
never hit any of the giants, [for] when the latter fought, they never
stood still, but leaped hither and thither. Our men buried their dead
companion, and burned all the possessions left behind by the giants. Of
a truth those giants run swifter than horses and are exceedingly
jealous of their wives.
When those people feel sick at the stomach, instead of purging
themselves, [109] they thrust an arrow down their throat for two palmos
or more [110] and vomit [substance of a] green color mixed with blood,
for they eat a certain kind of thistle. When they have a headache, they
cut themselves across the forehead; and they do the same on the arms or
on the legs and in any part of the body, letting a quantity of blood.
One of those whom we had captured, and whom we kept in our ship, said
that the blood refused to stay there [i.e., in the place of the pain],
and consequently causes them suffering. They wear their hair cut with
the tonsure, like friars, but it is left longer; [111] and they have a
cotton cord wrapped about the head, to which they fasten their arrows
when they go hunting. They bind their privies close to their bodies
because of the exceeding great cold. [112] When one of those people
die, x or twelve demons all painted appear to them and dance very
joyfully about the corpse. They notice that one of those demons is much
taller than the others, and he cries out and rejoices more. [113] They
paint themselves exactly in the same manner as the demon appears to
them painted. They call the larger demon Setebos, [114] and the others
Cheleulle. That giant also told us by signs that he had seen the demons
with two horns on their heads, and long hair which hung to the feet
belching forth fire from mouth and buttocks. The captain-general called
those people Patagoni. [115] They all clothe themselves in the skins of
that animal above mentioned; and they have no houses except those made
from the skin of the same animal, and they wander hither and thither
with those houses just as the Cingani [116] do. They live on raw flesh
and on a sweet root which they call chapae. [117] Each of the two whom
we captured ate a basketful of biscuit, and drank one-half pailful of
water at a gulp. They also ate rats without skinning them.
In that port which we called the port of Santo Julianno, we remained
about five months. [118] Many things happened there. In order that your
most illustrious Lordship may know some of them, it happened that as
soon as we had entered the port, the captains of the other four ships
plotted treason in order that they might kill the captain-general.
Those conspirators consisted of the overseer of the fleet, one Johan de
Cartagena, the treasurer, Alouise de Mendosa, the accountant, Anthonio
Cocha, and Gaspar de Cazada. The overseer of the men having been
quartered, the treasurer was killed by dagger blows, for the treason
was discovered. Some days after that, Gaspar de Casada, was banished
with a priest in that land of Patagonia. The captain-general did not
wish to have him killed, because the emperor, Don Carlo, had appointed
him captain. [119] A ship called “Sancto Jacobo” was wrecked in an
expedition made to explore the coast. All the men were saved as by a
miracle, not even getting wet. Two of them came to the ships after
suffering great hardships, and reported the whole occurrence to us.
Consequently, the captain-general sent some men with bags full of
biscuits [sufficient to last] for two months. It was necessary for us
to carry them the food, for daily pieces of the ship [that was wrecked]
were found. The way thither was long, [being] 24 leguas, [120] or one
hundred millas, and the path was very rough and full of thorns. The men
were 4 days on the road, sleeping at night in the bushes. They found no
drinking water, but only ice, which caused them the greatest hardship.
[121] There were very many long shellfish which are called missiglioni
[122] in that port [of Santo Julianno]. They have pearls, although
small ones in the middle, but could not be eaten. Incense, ostriches,
[123] foxes, sparrows, and rabbits much smaller than ours were also
found. We erected a cross on the top of the highest summit there, as a
sign in that land that it belonged to the king of Spagnia; and we
called that summit Monte de Christo [i.e., Mount of Christ].
Leaving that place, we found, in 51 degrees less one-third [124]
degree, toward the Antarctic Pole, a river of fresh water. There the
ships almost perished because of the furious winds; but God and the
holy bodies [125] aided them. We stayed about two months in that river
in order to supply the ships with water, wood, and fish, [the latter
being] one braccio in length and more, and covered with scales. They
were very good although small. [126] Before leaving that river, the
captain-general and all of us confessed and received communion as true
Christians. [127]
Then going to fifty-two degrees toward the same pole, [128] we found a
strait on the day of the [feast of the] [129] eleven thousand virgins
[i.e. October 21], whose head is called Capo de le Undici Millia
Vergine [i.e., cape of the Eleven Thousand Virgins] because of that
very great miracle. That strait is one hundred and ten leguas or 440
millas long, and it is one-half legua broad, more or less. [130] It
leads to another sea called the Pacific Sea, and is surrounded by very
lofty mountains laden with snow. There it was impossible to find bottom
[for anchoring], but [it was necessary to fasten] the moorings [131] on
land 25 or 30 brazas away. Had it not been for the captain-general, we
would not have found that strait, for we all thought and said that it
was closed on all sides. But the captain-general who knew where to sail
to find a well-hidden strait, which he saw depicted on a map in the
treasury of the king of Portugal, which was made by that excellent man,
Martin de Boemia, sent two ships, the “Santo Anthonio” and the
“Conceptione” (for thus they were called), to discover what was
inside the cape de la Baia [i.e., of the Bay]. [132] We, with the other
two ships, [namely], the flagship, called “Trinitade,” and the
other the “Victoria,” stayed inside the bay to await them. [133] A
great storm struck us that night, which lasted until the middle of next
day, which necessitated our lifting anchor, and letting ourselves drift
hither and thither about the bay. The other two ships suffered a
headwind and could not double a cape [134] formed by the bay almost at
its end, as they were trying to return to join us; so that they thought
that they would have to run aground. But on approaching the end of the
bay, and thinking that they were lost, they saw a small opening which
did not [exceed: crossed out in original MS.] appear to be an opening,
but a sharp turn [cantone]. [135] Like desperate men they hauled into
it, and thus they discovered the strait by chance. Seeing that it was
not a sharp turn, but a strait with land, they proceeded farther, and
found a bay. [136] And then farther on they found another strait and
another bay larger than the first two. [137] Very joyful they
immediately turned back to inform the captain-general. We thought that
they had been wrecked, first, by reason of the violent storm, and
second, because two days had passed and they had not appeared, and also
because of certain [signals with] smoke made by two of their men who
had been sent ashore to advise us. [138] And so, while in suspense, we
saw the two ships with sails full and banners flying to the wind,
coming toward us. When they neared us in this manner, they suddenly
discharged a number of mortars, and burst into cheers. [139] Then all
together thanking God and the Virgin Mary, we went to seek [the strait]
farther on.
After entering that strait, we found two openings, one to the
southeast, and the other to the southwest. [140] The captain-general
sent the ship “Sancto Anthonio” together with the “Concitione”
to ascertain whether that opening which was toward the southeast had an
exit into the Pacific Sea. The ship “Sancto Anthonio” would not
await the “Conceptione,” because it intended to flee and return to
Spagnia—which it did. The pilot of that ship was one Stefan Gomes,
[141] and he hated the captain-general exceedingly, because before that
fleet was fitted out, the emperor had ordered that he be given some
caravels with which to discover lands, but his Majesty did not give
them to him because of the coming of the captain-general. On that
account he conspired with certain Spaniards, and next night they
captured the captain of their ship, a cousin [142] of the
captain-general, one Alvaro de Meschita, whom they wounded and put in
irons, and in this condition took to Spagnia. The other giant whom we
had captured was in that ship, but he died when the heat came on. The
“Conceptione,” as it could not follow that ship, waited for it,
sailing about hither and thither. The “Sancto Anthonio” turned back
at night and fled along the same [port: crossed out in original MS.]
strait. [143] We had gone to explore the other opening toward the
southwest. Finding, however, the same [port: crossed out in original
MS.] strait continuously, we came upon a river which we called the
river of Sardine [i.e., Sardines], because there were many sardines
near it. [144] So we stayed there for four days in order to await the
two ships. During that period we sent a well-equipped boat to explore
the cape of the other sea. The men returned within three days, and
reported that they had seen the cape and the open sea. The
captain-general wept for joy, and called that cape, Cape Dezeado [i.e.,
Desire], [145] for we had been desiring it for a long time. We turned
back to look for the two ships, [146] but we found only the
“Conceptione.” Upon asking them where the other one was, Johan
Seranno, [147] who was captain and pilot of the former ship (and also
of that ship that had been wrecked) replied that he did not know, and
that he had never seen it after it had entered the opening. We sought
it in all parts of the strait, as far as that opening whence it had
fled, and the captain-general sent the ship “Victoria” back to the
entrance of the strait to ascertain whether the ship was there. Orders
were given them, if they did not find it, to plant a banner on the
summit of some small hill with a letter in an earthen pot buried in the
earth near the banner, so that if the banner were seen the letter might
be found, and the ship might learn the course that we were sailing. For
this was the arrangement made between us in case that we went astray
one from the other. [148] Two banners were planted with their
letters—one on a little eminence in the first bay, and the other in
an islet in the third bay [149] where there were many sea-wolves and
large birds. The captain-general waited for the ship with his other
ship near he river of Isleo, [150] and he had a cross set up in an
islet near that river, which flowed between high mountains covered with
snow and emptied into the sea near the river of Sardine. Had we not
discovered that strait, the captain-general had determined to go as far
as seventy-five degrees toward the Antarctic Pole. There in that
latitude, during the summer season, there is no night, or if there is
any night it is but short, and so in the winter with the day. In order
that your most illustrious Lordship may believe it, when we were in
that strait, the nights were only three hours long, and it was then the
month of October. [151] The land on the left-hand side of that strait
turned toward the southeast [152] and was low. We called that strait
the strait of Patagonia. One finds the safest of ports every half legua
in it, [153] water, the finest of wood (but not of cedar), fish,
sardines, and missiglioni, while smallage, [154] a sweet herb (although
there is also some that is bitter) grows around the springs. We ate of
it for many days as we had nothing else. I believe that there is not a
more beautiful or better strait in the world than that one. [155] In
that Ocean Sea one sees a very amusing fish hunt. The fish [that hunt]
are of three sorts, and are one braza and more in length, and are
called dorado, albicore, and bonito. [156] Those fish follow the flying
fish called colondrini, [157] which are one palmo and more [158] in
length and very good to eat. When the above three kinds [of fish] find
any of those flying fish, the latter immediately leap from the water
and fly as long as their wings are wet—more than a crossbow’s
flight. While they are flying, the others run along back of them under
the water following the shadow of the flying fish. The latter have no
sooner fallen into the water than the others immediately seize and eat
them. It is in fine a very amusing thing to watch.